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your partner in legislative research
Legislative Reference Library of Texas
your partner in legislative research
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New to Our Website

Jul 30

posted by TexasLRL in LRL news

This monthly post highlights new content recently added to the library's website.
 
Interim Charges
The library's interim charges page is updated with all House and Senate interim charges that have been issued for the 83rd Legislature.
 
Session Laws of the 83rd Legislature:
  • Session laws and chapter numbers for legislation from the 83rd Legislature are now available within the Legislative Archive System (LAS).
Committee Minutes:
Scanned versions of committee minutes can be accessed on our website. Recent additions include:
 

This entry was posted on July 30, 2014 at 3:21 PM and has received 844 views. Print this entry.

New Pinterest Board - Women's Firsts

Jun 6

posted by TexasLRL in LRL news, Texas history

The library has a new Pinterest board highlighting historic firsts of women in the Texas legislative community.  Learn about trailblazers such as Edith Wilmans and Barbara Jordan, two women who lived in different times but made great strides for women's history. Wilmans was the first woman to serve in the Texas legislature, and Jordan was the first African-American woman to serve. The board also focuses on lesser-known individuals, such as the first woman to chair a House committee, the first woman to filibuster in the Texas Senate, and the first woman to serve as a legislative officer.  We invite you to view the board at: http://www.pinterest.com/texaslrl/historic-firsts-for-texas-women/
Image of Pinterest board on Women's Firsts in the Texas legislative community.

This entry was posted on June 6, 2014 at 10:53 AM and has received 1536 views. Print this entry.

New to Our Website

May 8

posted by TexasLRL in LRL news

This monthly post highlights new content recently added to the library's website.
 
The following House and Senate Journals have been added to our online collection:
  • 71st Regular and Called Sessions (1989-90) – House and Senate Journals
  • 73rd Regular Session (1993) – House and Senate Journals
Our interim charges page is updated with all House and Senate interim charges that have been issued for the 83rd Legislature.
 
The Library’s new Water Resources Research Guide offers a comprehensive bibliography of resources related to water, including water-related agencies, organizations, databases, and research aids, as well as citations to articles and reports published between 2008 and 2014.
 
Bill Files:
Our Legislative Archive System now contains historical bill files for the 36th Regular and Called Sessions (1919-20).
 
Recent additions from the 65th Legislature (1977) include minutes and documentation from the Joint Interim Committee on Special Education. This committee was established pursuant to SCR 111, 65th R.S., and held hearings all across the state in 1978.
 

This entry was posted on May 8, 2014 at 8:06 AM and has received 647 views. Print this entry.

Texas Water Resources Research Guide

Mar 10

posted by TexasLRL in Interesting documents, LRL news, New & Noteworthy, Water planning

Cover image for the Water Resources Research guide Looking for a starting point to research Texas water issues?  Check out the Legislative Reference Library's new Water Resources Research Guide. 
 
This comprehensive bibliography of resources related to water includes lists of water-related agencies, organizations, databases, and research aids as well as citations to articles and reports published between 2008 and 2014.
 
The Guide focuses on water resources development, management, and use; water rights and allocation; and water planning and research.

This entry was posted on March 10, 2014 at 8:45 AM and has received 2564 views. Print this entry.

New Exhibit: Inspired By Texas

Feb 24

posted by TexasLRL in LRL news

Inspired by Texas logo
A new library exhibit invites visitors to get "Inspired by Texas." The exhibit area will feature revolving themes from Texas culture, literature, and history. This month we are highlighting legislators who also are artists.
 
Sen. Craig Estes Senator Craig Estes (R-Wichita Falls, 2001-present) has loaned the library one of his paintings for display. The Senator studied art in college and has long been recognized for his artistic accomplishments. His work is primarily abstract, and he has a great eye for design and color.
 
The exhibit also showcases drawings by Representative Neil Caldwell (D-Alvin, 1960-1977). Caldwell's images, both whimsical and astute, are as timely in Texas politics today as they were when he sketched them. He had a masterful way of capturing the essence of elected officials and staff through portraiture. A compilation of his art was published in 1969.
 
We invite you to come into the library to enjoy this art or check out our Pinterest Boards, New Acquisitions and Young Texans Collection, to see books highlighted in the exhibit.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

This entry was posted on February 24, 2014 at 8:41 AM and has received 1136 views. Print this entry.

Library Resources Update, February 2014

Feb 10

posted by TexasLRL in LRL news

This monthly post highlights new resources recently added to the library's website.
 
The following House and Senate Journals have been added to our online collection:
  • 32nd Regular Session (1911) - House journal
  • 48th Regular Session (1943) - House journal
  • 64th Regular Session (1975) - House and Senate journals
  • 66th Regular Session (1979) - Senate journal
  • 67th Regular and Called Sessions (1981-82) - Senate journal
  • 69th Regular and Called Sessions (1985-86) - House journal
  • 70th Regular and Called Sessions  (1987) - House and Senate journals
  • 72nd Regular and Called Sessions (1991-92) - House and Senate journals
We recently added House interim charges for the 83rd Legislature to our Legislative Reports database.  The list of charges also includes Senate charges that have been issued so far for the 83rd.
 
Recent additions to this online database of gubernatorial materials include governor speeches and messages from the 39th-46th Legislatures (1925-39), going back to Governor Miriam Ferguson.
 
A new webpage that lists current Texas legislators who have accounts on Twitter and provides a single feed where you can view Texas legislators' posts to Twitter.
 
New online collection of inaugural invitations, programs, and brochures.
 
Recent additions from the 65th Legislature (1977) include minutes from the Joint Advisory Committee on Educational Services to the Deaf and Senate Committee to Study Texas Beaches
 
 

This entry was posted on February 10, 2014 at 10:42 AM and has received 889 views. Print this entry.

Young Texans Collection

Sep 5

posted by TexasLRL in LRL news

Photo of Young Texans exhibitYoung readers visiting the library can learn about Texas through our Young Texans Collection. The collection includes a variety of children’s books for every age level, from picture books to chapter books. Visitors can learn all about Texas, (“L is for Lone Star”), discover events in Texas history (“Voices of the Alamo”), and read about Texas politicians and historical figures (Martín de León, Barbara Jordan, and Sam Houston, among many others).

The collection is accessible any time the library is open, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. You can also view the collection on Pinterest, where we’ve included notes about reading levels and brief summaries of the books.

This entry was posted on September 5, 2013 at 8:01 AM and has received 1391 views. Print this entry.

Legislative Resources and Staff Honored with NCSL Awards

Aug 28

posted by TexasLRL in LRL news

The Texas Legislative Reference Library and the Texas Senate Research Center have been recognized with Notable Document Awards by the National Conference of State Legislatures, Legislative Research Librarians staff section. More than forty documents from seventeen states were submitted for the award, with thirteen documents from eleven states receiving the honor. Texas was one of only two states to win two awards. The awards were announced at the 38th NCSL Legislative Summit in Atlanta, Georgia in August.
 

The Texas Legislative Reference Library's Pinterest page, recipient of the Notable Online Resource award, uses the unique format of boards and pins to highlight books, photographs, art and other items that bring the Texas Legislature and its history into view. From historical 'tidbits' about the Texas Legislature to a full exhibit of state symbols, the page highlights a range of helpful information.

The Senate Research Center's Budget 101: A Guide to the Budget Process in Texas received a Notable Document on Fiscal Policy award. A useful primer on the biennial budget process in Texas, the guide provides a step-by-step description of what happens to the budget during the legislative session, and discusses the different agencies and offices involved in the process. In addition, the publication contains information on the current two-year budget, including when it was passed, total funding, and how funds were distributed by function.
A full list of Notable Document Award Winners for 2013 is available here.
 
In other awards news, Mary Camp, Director of the Library, was the recipient of the Legislative Staff Achievement award for 2013. This award recognizes excellence in supporting the work of a state legislature and strengthening the legislative institution. Candidates are evaluated on a number of criteria, including their effectiveness at improving the legislative process, as well as their contributions to the work of the National Conference of State Legislatures. Congratulations, Mary!
 

This entry was posted on August 28, 2013 at 9:30 AM and has received 1063 views. Print this entry.

New: State Symbols on Pinterest

Oct 15

posted by Admin in LRL news

In 1901, Texas legislators designated the Bluebonnet (Lupinus Subcarnosus) the Official State Flower. Shortly after that, in 1919, they named the Pecan Tree the State Tree of Texas. Since then, more than 60 state symbols have been designated, ranging from Official State Footwear (cowboy boot) to Official State Cooking Implement (cast iron Dutch oven).
 
See the entire collection of state symbols on our new Pinterest page, "State Symbols of Texas." For each symbol we included an image and linked to the resolution or bill that designated it.
 
Screenshot of State Symbols Pinterest board
 

This entry was posted on October 15, 2012 at 8:21 AM and has received 7447 views. Print this entry.

LRL Now on Pinterest

Aug 6

posted by Admin in LRL news

It's official, the Legislative Reference Library is now on Pinterest! You can view our page at http://pinterest.com/texaslrl/
 
Pinterest is a new social media site that allows you to collect and share interesting things you find on the web. Users set up "boards" on a theme of their choice and then "pin" web-based items they find on that topic. Browsing other users' Pinterest boards is a fun and visual way to discover new information.
 
The library's three initial pinboards highlight art in the library, books by or about Texas legislators, and links for the library's most popular online resources. We'll be pinning new items on an ongoing basis, so check back often!

Texas LRL on Pinterest

This entry was posted on August 6, 2012 at 8:19 AM and has received 1658 views. Print this entry.

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